Petaluma schools update high‑school bell schedule; district rolls out twice‑weekly advisory to add electives and supports

Summary

District staff described a new seven‑period bell schedule and a twice‑weekly advisory at Petaluma High and Casa Grande designed to add electives, increase counseling and support, and create time for targeted help; board members and parents pressed staff on monitoring, discipline and exemptions for seniors.

Petaluma City Schools staff presented a high‑school bell schedule update and the new advisory model at a joint school‑board meeting, describing how the schedule change created more elective opportunities and a regular “advisory” period intended for student supports and small‑group help.

Jason, identified in the meeting as a district human‑resources staff member, said the district saw staffing impacts from the schedule change: “we when we look at this section increases at both Casa Grande and Petaluma High, there was a a 8.8 FTE increase at Casa Grande and a 6.2 FTE increase at Petaluma,” and added that those FTEs include many partial‑time positions. Sandra Larson, from PFT, summarized the district’s intention for advisory: “The advisory section process I just have to say first, this was a real example of shared decision making and how it works in the district.”

Why it matters: The schedule move is meant to give students more elective options — including Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways — and to provide a…

Petaluma schools update high‑school bell schedule; district rolls out twice‑weekly advisory to add electives and supports

Summary

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